Registration is now open for the Supreme Court of Ohio’s annual Specialized Dockets Conference, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 28.

For those currently operating or considering implementing a specialized docket, the daylong training and collaboration sessions enable judges, court staff, treatment providers, and community partners to come together and learn about some of the best practices in the arena.

In addition to two main sessions for all in-person attendees, the agenda includes discussions on trauma-informed practices, addiction science, ethics, reentry, media relations, and more. It also includes opportunities for networking and skill building.

For those unable to travel to Columbus for the in-person conference at the Ohio Union at Ohio State University, a virtual livestream option is also available. Registration for either conference option is free. Those attending in person can earn up to 5.75 hours of continuing education credits, while the virtual track offers a maximum of 4.75 credit hours.

Ohio is a nationwide leader with more than 200 specialized docket programs certified by the Court that address substance abuse or mental health disorders in adults and children who are involved in the justice system. Some programs are more broadly eligible to participants, while others focus on specific issues, such as domestic violence, human trafficking, veterans, or reentry.

To be certified, each court must adopt the Supreme Court’s standards, which are rooted in research. Courts can then tailor the docket to the needs of their communities and participants.

The goal is to work with people who need the most help and demonstrate the highest risk of recidivism. Specialized dockets focus on treating a person’s illness and other personal factors that may contribute to their behavior rather than simply imposing punitive measures without addressing the root cause. By intervening when an offender is first introduced to the justice system, treatment teams can offer the support and resources necessary to break patterns and keep participants from returning to court, jail, or prison.